We’d like to welcome you to the Finnish Packraft Gathering 4.0. Meeting will be held at Lohjanjärvi-Mustionjoki in Southern Finland on 6.-8.10.2017. The meeting is an informal gathering of likeminded people so there is no strict schedule or program but the idea would be following:

Friday 6.10. Gathering at the parking area of Karkali Strict Nature Reserve (info in English). The address is Karkalintie 1035, Lohja. Next to the strict nature reserve there is a parking area, picnic tables and an outhouse but NO fireplace or dedicated camp site. But there’s plenty of interesting things to see on the area. Please be considerate and follow the rules of the strict nature reserve or utilize every man’s rights outside it. You can arrive by car or walk/cycle from Lohja or paddle from across the lake from Lohja (~15km).

Saturday 7.10. Idea is to start from the parking area at 10:00 am. You can also join us in the morning! A short walk from the parking area to the nature reserve where there is a beach to launch our rafts. From Karkalinniemi we will paddle South to Ruosniemenselkä (~8km). From there you can take out and walk to the camping area in Korpudden (~7km) or paddle all the way (total ~20km) to Korpudden.

In Korpudden there is a fireplace, outhouse and short nature trail (info in Finnish). No huts or shelters so bring your own! We will spend the second night here. The plan is to share stories of packrafting accidents and close-calls by the fire to learn from others and make packrafting safer.

Sunday 8.10. To make it to Karjaa in time, we should start around 09:00 am. From Korpudden we will paddle down the Mustionjoki (Svartån). It is (mostly) flat and easy going with some dams to portage. It is one of the “100 pearls of nature” according to the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (info in Finnish). If you paddle all the way to Karjaa, the distance is about 20 km.

From Karjaa you can continue further down stream to Pohja or even to Raasepori. But that will likely require another day of paddling. Or catch a bus back home from Karjaa. Car shuttles can be arranged if needed. Best to shuttle the cars on Friday evening or very early on Saturday morning.

Everyone is welcome to join – even if you don’t have a packraft, you can just come to have a look or join us with a kayak or canoe. But you can also rent one. You can rent one for the meeting for the same special price of 40 eur (VAT 24%) per raft from:

There’s been more cobwebs than content in this blog lately but I’m still alive and in the outdoors things are moving. I’ve had a fleet of packrafts for a few years that I’ve been using in my guiding work and also renting “under the counter” – but now it’s time to go public!

So, if you happen to be in Finland and in need of a packraft for your adventure or just want to test one, take a look at my Packraft rentals page!

In autumn 2013 I offer two guided packrafting programs. The first one is an introduction course to packrafting, which is available in English on request. The other is a one-week packrafting tour to Reisadalen in Northern Norway and is a bilingual tour guided in Finnish and English.

(If you’re wondering what is a packraft take a look at the “What is a packraft?” page for an answer.)

– Packrafting course – Introduction to packrafting; 24.-25.8.2013; Kymijoki, Southern Finland.
Learn the basics of packrafting for still and swift water: gear, safety, technique and useful tips and tricks. Makes also a great introduction for future packrafting tours in Northern Scandinavia and Arctic regions beyond the seas! The course on the set dates will be held in Finnish but similar courses are available in English on request due the demand similar course will be arrange later in the autumn at Kymijoki. E-mail for possible dates!
– Packraft tour 2013 – Reisadalen; 7.-15.9.2013; Nordreisa, Norway.
Experience the hills and valleys of Northern Norway, the mighty valley of Reisadalen and float down the Reisaelva – and learn packrafting on the way in the awesome scenery and good company!
– Tailor-made courses and tours on packrafting, (lightweight) hiking and kayaking/canoeing are also available on request and can be arranged anywhere in mainland Scandinavia for individuals or groups.